We are students of English in Maria Markaki school. We are currently in ECPE/ CPE Class (C2 level). This blog is our e-portfolio. English is very useful and fun!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Simple Ways You Can Help Prevent Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty is common everywhere, even in places where it’s prohibited. Although there may be laws on animal cruelty, its not highly implemented. Thus every year, there are several animals, including pets like cats and dogs, and wild animals, that are maltreated.

There are many forms of animal cruelty. You could have observed someone physically hurting an animal. Animal cruelty can also be in the form of malnutrition when animal owners don’t feed their pets properly. Generally, what causes injury and suffering to an animal can be considered animal cruelty.

The easiest way is to help fight animal cruelty is to report it once spotted. Here are some things you can do to prevent animal cruelty.

Be Aware

Keep your eyes and ears open. Your local humane society or animal shelter wouldn’t know several instances of animal abuse without those concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhood through phone calls. So, do your part and be on the look out for animals in your own neighborhood. This could be a possible indicator of neglect or abuse.

Learn to Distinguish Animal Cruelty

Reading the Signs of Abuse - There are signs and symptoms observed in most abused animals. Watch out for wounds on the body, patches of missing hair, extremely thin and starving animals, limping and tick or flea infestations. An owner who is physically abusing an animal is abusive. Dogs left chained in the yard and without access to food and water is a neglectful act. Animals hit by a car and not taken to a veterinarian is also a neglectful act. These are all forms of animal cruelty.

Report Animal Cruelty

Know who to call when reporting animal cruelty. There are some states that have Humane Law Enforcement officers who can investigate and arrest perpetrators of animal cruelty. In some towns, you may have to call the police department or local animal control. Know who to call. Also, when reporting an incident, make sure that you provide as much information possible. The details will mean a lot to the investigating officer. Try writing down the type of cruelty you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident, and where it happened.

Do Some Proactive Steps to Fight Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty is a crime. Write or call your local law enforcement departments and tell them that investigating animal cruelty should be a main concern. Fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state or local levels. Have signature petitions. Write letters to legislators. Stronger laws mean tougher penalties, and punishment for animal cruelty should be harsher! Support your local animal rescue organization or local shelter. Volunteer at animal shelters and rescue groups in your area.

Another way to stop abuse is to set a good example. You can prevent animal cruelty and it starts within you. If you are a pet owner, make sure that you always show your pets the love and care that they ought to have. Always provide food, fresh water, shelter and medical treatment if your pet is sick. Have your animals spayed or neutered. Be a responsible pet owner. And to top it off, a lot of hugs and kisses won’t hurt!

Dear Sotiria...I don't like to think that animals in pet shops are commodities...I like to think that pet shops help animals get a home...Of course I believe that their life conditions aren't satisfactory but don't you think that when they are adopted their lives get easier and they live happily in a family that loves them?

From my point of view, pet shops are a version of animal cruelty. To clarify it, the most pets come from abused, caged and starved mothers. For example, we may dawdle very cute puppies in front of shop windows, but their mothers are abused from birth and used as puppies making machines. If we are keen on buying a puppy that looks like miserable, believing that we will save an animal life, it is going to be replaced by a new one.

To conclude, I strongly believe that pets shops must be prohibited. They are a lot of stray animals that we could adopt and take care of.

Dear Sotiria,I respect your opinion and I admire your way of thinking.You are right.There are a lot of stray animals that could be nice pets,but most people are mean.They think that they will hurt them or that they have got diseases.That's rarely true,but nobody wants to bring a stray animal into his home.That's wrong,but what can we do about it?There are some organisations that help animals,but only few people care.It's sad,but it's true...:(